Comparison · updated July 2026
Kalshi vs Polymarket
Kalshi and Polymarket are two of the most discussed prediction market platforms in the US. Here's a side-by-side look at how they compare on the factors that actually matter for traders.
Kalshi
The first CFTC-regulated event contract exchange in the United States.
Polymarket
The largest crypto-settled prediction market for global events.
Rating
Kalshi
4.7
Polymarket
4.3
Best for
Kalshi
Regulated US event contracts
Polymarket
Deepest liquidity and largest market variety
Regulation
Kalshi
CFTC-regulated
Polymarket
Offshore
US availability
Kalshi
Available
Polymarket
Restricted
Fees
Kalshi
Up to 2% per trade
Polymarket
0% trading fees
Mobile
Kalshi
Excellent
Polymarket
Good
Markets
Kalshi
Politics, Economy, Sports, Weather, Culture, AI, Financial events
Polymarket
Politics, Sports, Crypto, Economy, Culture, AI, Entertainment, Technology
Payment
Kalshi
ACH, Debit card, Wire transfer
Polymarket
USDC (Polygon)
Founded
Kalshi
2018
Polymarket
2020
Verdicts
Who wins, category by category
Final take
Should you choose Kalshi or Polymarket?
For US-based traders, Kalshi is the obvious starting point: Polymarket is not legally available in the United States. Kalshi is the default choice for US users who want regulated exposure to event contracts. The breadth of markets, the quality of the apps and the regulatory standing make it the strongest all-around platform for most American traders.